The RCVS is gearing up for a new campaign aimed at educating the public about out-of-hours vet care.

The RCVS is gearing up for a new campaign aimed at educating the public about out-of-hours (OOH) vet care.

Speaking at VN council yesterday (May 7, 2013), the college’s head of communications, Lizzie Lockett, said staff would be out in force at the forthcoming London Pet Show and that the college was planning a number of Twitter events to raise awareness of OOH provision.

College staff at the pet show on May 11-12, 2013, will be giving out OOH fridge magnets to attendees – with space to write the details of their emergency provider – to encourage owners to make sure they know the details of their OOH cover, and, if not, that they ask their practice for details.

Ms Lockett said: “For me, with my cat, my practice didn’t tell clients they’d moved their OOH to a practice 15 miles away – this is not so much of a problem for me, but it’s more so for those who haven’t got a car.”

The RCVS is also planning to use social media site Twitter to ramp up interest.

Prior to the RCVS question time event planned for Durham on May 15, 2013, RCVS chief executive Nick Stace is planning to stay up all night with an emergency care team and post live updates via Twitter.

The RCVS is also planning a mass “Tweet-a-thon” in autumn 2013, where it hopes vet staff across the country will take to Twitter over the course of one evening to tweet about events on the job.

“We want to try to get members of the public thinking of OOH,” Ms Lockett added. “What kind of cover is available, the fact they may have to take their animals somewhere else, and getting the public to think more about vets and nurses and the great service they provide every night.”

To follow Mr Stace during his evening on call on May 14, 2013, find him on Twitter at @nickstacetweets